Morning all. I live in a relatively safe Labour seat and I have had a leaflet from Labour, Conservative, Lib Dem, UKIP and an independent. No door knocking. For the local elections my ward is all Conservative, albeit last year one Conservative just scraped in against the Labour challenger. In the locals I have only had a Labour leaflet, although I seem to remember the Conservative Parliamentary leaflet had some mention of the councillors.
Thinking forward to May 8th, if the Con-Lib coalition was able to stay on what are people's views about how many roles the Lib Dems will get? Surely they cannot have as many Minister proportionally as they had before if their MP figure collapses? Will there only be two Lib Dem cabinet positions (excluding Clegg) rather than three? I would imagine some Conservative backbenchers would fume of the Lib Dems had as substantial a role than previously with fewer voters?
What choice would the Tories have ? Either accept the LD votes and demands or go it alone.
Currently there are 36 LD ministers. There may not even be that many LD MPs next time.
I doubt there will be 26 let alone 36. Still, I suppose they could always double up in terms of handling their portfolios.
The Delia Smith endorsement is an extremely good one for Labour precisely because she doesn't fit the normal mould of Labour luvvie. They must be delighted with it.
In theory, but most voters have no idea who their MP is. If all you had tho go on, on the ballot form was the candidates name they would be unable to identify who they actually wanted to support.
Not necessarily as an individual: they may think that whoever Labour puts forward will best represent their interests.
But that's totally different to someone from Witney directing the vote of someone in Eastleigh. The Witney individual might be quite happy with a Tory, but is likely to have no understanding of specific issues pertaining to Eastleigh.
Surely that's just the Eastleigh person choosing to have their vote determined in this way. If there was a local consideration that overwhelmed their usual preference, surely they would choose not to take part in the arrabgement.
Not really: they are deciding that they don't like the rules of the game, so they will subvert the intention of a constituency based system.
Rosa Parks didn't like the rules of the game either.
Protest is a legitimate means of bringing about change.
Ludicrous comparison. Almost worth of a Goodwin award.
Vote swapping is a private affair between two individuals. Hardly a great statement of principle.
Campaign for change. Get a petition. Organise a group of people to canvass for MPs who support a change. Throw yourself under the Queen's horse at the Derby for all I care.
But don't deprive other citizens of the full exercise of their right to select a local representative. That's my fundamental issue with vote swapping: it's person A saying "my wishes are more important than those people's over there"
Charles. I admire your vehemency and consistency on this argument - I remember you were the first to call Mike out on it within minutes.
However everyone has a free vote and how they choose to exercise that free vote is up to them. Short of intimidation, neither influencing someone to change their vote, nor being influenced to change one's vote are outwith the normal democratic process.
I really do worry about the post-election environment if it's a messy hung parliament. People fighting over legitimacy with a rabid Tory press sticking its oar in. Street protests are surely a high possibility. Would we have Scots marching on Westminster demanding Cameron go? No doubt Russell Brand will be all over the place.
I find protests highly unlikely. The overwhelming feeling of this election is an apathetic "we don't care" - so why would people protest after? Passions are no boiling over.
You don't need that many for things to boil over. I can't believe there won't be SNP supporters marching on Westminster.
The Delia Smith endorsement is an extremely good one for Labour precisely because she doesn't fit the normal mould of Labour luvvie. They must be delighted with it.
The Ronnie O Sullivan one wasn't bad either.
Brand coming out for the Greens is the least surprising one ever tbh. And shows up their core certainty to vote...
Carlotta - so they couldn't even get a member of the cabinet.
For what its worth - and I don't know why I bother trying tot talk to people about internal Labour stuff on this site as you all never listen - MPs have woken up over the last 7 years to the importance and power of members.
The members will want Ed to stay and they will shut up if they were to even raise their voices.
There will be no question of any moves against Ed. No MP will be stupid enough to do that.
Even if he wins less than 2010?
The Labour party does not remove a Prime Minister. The Labour Party has never removed a Leader.
George Lansbury in 1935 was removed by the membership.
The Delia Smith endorsement is an extremely good one for Labour precisely because she doesn't fit the normal mould of Labour luvvie. They must be delighted with it.
I doubt many people under 35, or even 40, really know who Delia is. So only older voters might be persuaded. Older voters have already decided. Therefore it will not shift a single vote, except maybe in Norwich.
Celebrity endorsements also gee up the activist base, a huge positive.
The Delia Smith endorsement is an extremely good one for Labour precisely because she doesn't fit the normal mould of Labour luvvie. They must be delighted with it.
Not sure why people getting so excited by Delia Smith endorsement, like it is some big surprise....
The Labour Party was said to be "over the moon" after gaining the support of one of the UK's most famous cooks, football club director Delia Smith.
Russell Brand has just released a video on his YouTube series the Trews in which he urges people in England to vote Labour, in a huge departure from his previous stance that voting is a waste of time.
He explains his change of heart because “the Conservative party plans to dismantle our community assets, to tear apart the very fabric of our society”.
He says his interview with Ed Miliband last week made him change his stance on the value of voting:
What I heard Ed Miliband say was that if we speak, he will listen. So on that basis we have no choice but to take decisive action to end the danger of the Conservative party. David Cameron might think I’m a joke but I don’t think there’s anything funny about what the Conservative party has been doing to this country and we have to stop them …
He then moves on to say that if you’re Scottish, you’ll probably be voting SNP; if you live in Brighton Pavilion, you should vote for Caroline Lucas; but if you’re anywhere else, you should vote Labour.
The Delia Smith endorsement is an extremely good one for Labour precisely because she doesn't fit the normal mould of Labour luvvie. They must be delighted with it.
I doubt many people under 35, or even 40, really know who Delia is. So only older voters might be persuaded. Older voters have already decided. Therefore it will not shift a single vote, except maybe in Norwich.
It's all about Mary Berry and her exquisite buns these days. She is going to determine the votes of millions and I am reliably informed she is a big English Democrat.
The Delia Smith endorsement is an extremely good one for Labour precisely because she doesn't fit the normal mould of Labour luvvie. They must be delighted with it.
I doubt many people under 35, or even 40, really know who Delia is. So only older voters might be persuaded. Older voters have already decided. Therefore it will not shift a single vote, except maybe in Norwich.
Celebrity endorsements also gee up the activist base, a huge positive.
Russell Brand has just released a video on his YouTube series the Trews in which he urges people in England to vote Labour, in a huge departure from his previous stance that voting is a waste of time.
He explains his change of heart because “the Conservative party plans to dismantle our community assets, to tear apart the very fabric of our society”.
He says his interview with Ed Miliband last week made him change his stance on the value of voting:
What I heard Ed Miliband say was that if we speak, he will listen. So on that basis we have no choice but to take decisive action to end the danger of the Conservative party. David Cameron might think I’m a joke but I don’t think there’s anything funny about what the Conservative party has been doing to this country and we have to stop them …
He then moves on to say that if you’re Scottish, you’ll probably be voting SNP; if you live in Brighton Pavilion, you should vote for Caroline Lucas; but if you’re anywhere else, you should vote Labour.
We all knew this was coming didn't we. The whole thing was a predictable setup, the timing, the drip drip drip of the videos.
Very good spin op for Labour, managing to make one interview get several new cycles over the course of a week. And of course for Brand as well, the man who hates all those tax dodgers like Amazon and Google, unless he is flogging his products on those sites. I am sure he has seen a significant uptick in views etc...oh and he happens to have a movie out as well...available from all good tax dodging online outlets.
Russell Brand has just released a video on his YouTube series the Trews in which he urges people in England to vote Labour, in a huge departure from his previous stance that voting is a waste of time.
He explains his change of heart because “the Conservative party plans to dismantle our community assets, to tear apart the very fabric of our society”.
He says his interview with Ed Miliband last week made him change his stance on the value of voting:
What I heard Ed Miliband say was that if we speak, he will listen. So on that basis we have no choice but to take decisive action to end the danger of the Conservative party. David Cameron might think I’m a joke but I don’t think there’s anything funny about what the Conservative party has been doing to this country and we have to stop them …
He then moves on to say that if you’re Scottish, you’ll probably be voting SNP; if you live in Brighton Pavilion, you should vote for Caroline Lucas; but if you’re anywhere else, you should vote Labour.
We all knew this was coming didn't we.
But how many people who follow Russell Brand will have bothered to register to vote in the first place? He appeals precisely to those people who are not interested in politics (and, let's face it, probably aren't very good at filling in forms).
I think his endorsement will be at best a neutral asset for Miliband. It may just help Caroline Lucas hang on despite the ongoing saga of Brighton Council.
The Delia Smith endorsement is an extremely good one for Labour precisely because she doesn't fit the normal mould of Labour luvvie. They must be delighted with it.
The Ronnie O Sullivan one wasn't bad either.
Brand coming out for the Greens is the least surprising one ever tbh. And shows up their core certainty to vote...
Labour's ground game is honestly brilliant this election. I really wish I could go into the details of it for people on here. Its so frustrating when you read very ill informed comments about campaigning on here!
And you have the cheek to call Scott P post repetitive.
I wonder what Ed promise Brand in return for this? After all, Ed has a track record of changing government policy after being harangued by a C-list celebrity.
I wonder what Ed promise Brand in return for this? After all, Ed has a track record of changing government policy after being harangued by a C-list celebrity.
He has a movie out....you will see it advertised on his youtube channel...
If you know anything about one of the standard M.O's how for growing your YouTube channel and flogging stuff via it, Brand is just using the same approach that has been so successful for the likes of Zoella.
The whole thing has (unlike EdStone) actually a well run PR stunt (the leaked photo, the sneak peek vid, etc) for both concerned, but then I presume Brand PR people were in charge of this rather than those who came up with Ed Stone.
Not quite. Assume Labour are going to lose 35 seats in Scotland. 258-35= 223.
I find the current SPIN midpoints inexplicable. It is a repeat of 2010 with silly money being invested in a Tory success by punters voting with their hearts instead of their heads.
The SPIN midpoints are very close to the PB NOJAM contest. Both may well be wrong but what punters think and what they bet on do seem consistent. My own entry was very close to the mean for the big two. Less so for the LDs.
It seems rather tetchy on here this morning. Jitters all round, I guess.
Anyway, putting the Times front page together with Ed Miliband's comments today, it seems as though there will be a high speed power struggle within Labour if they come second by 20 seats or more.
I would have expected loyalty to hold till the election. It is interesting that there are rumbles coming ahead of Thursday.
Personally, I am not surprised.
Although Ed is not the only person responsible for problems in Scotland, he certainly is responsible for failing to notice the very real threat after Holyrood 2011 (his first election in charge).
I expect he will pay the price for that misjudgment.
It's like the 2008 crash. You can argue till the cows come home about the causes, but in the end those in charge at the time have no chance of avoiding the blame.
Yep.
Moreover, Miliband is phenomenally and historically unpopular in Scotland, he's disliked even more than Cameron.
He hasn't just presided over the SLAB collapse, qua Miliband, he has partly caused it.
Mlliband's recent ratings are better than Cameron in Scotland. That's not saying much of course!
The Delia Smith endorsement is an extremely good one for Labour precisely because she doesn't fit the normal mould of Labour luvvie. They must be delighted with it.
I doubt many people under 35, or even 40, really know who Delia is. So only older voters might be persuaded. Older voters have already decided. Therefore it will not shift a single vote, except maybe in Norwich.
Yes, it was 1971 when she was dispensing advice for such recipes as 'Baked Fish Fingers'. '...a concoction of tinned tomatoes, mushrooms and grated cheese poured over fish fingers...'.
But how many people who follow Russell Brand will have bothered to register to vote in the first place? He appeals precisely to those people who are not interested in politics (and, let's face it, probably aren't very good at filling in forms).
I think his endorsement will be at best a neutral asset for Miliband. It may just help Caroline Lucas hang on despite the ongoing saga of Brighton Council.
Half a million registered on April 20. I think a further 3/4 million in the preceding few weeks.
You'll have to find something else to comfort yourself with until Friday's disappointment.
Charles. I admire your vehemency and consistency on this argument - I remember you were the first to call Mike out on it within minutes.
However everyone has a free vote and how they choose to exercise that free vote is up to them. Short of intimidation, neither influencing someone to change their vote, nor being influenced to change one's vote are outwith the normal democratic process.
Unfortunately most of them are exercising that right based on ignorance. They fail to realise that the very thing they are most exercised by - unaccountable politicians who put party and personal advancement before the best interests of their constituents - is in large part due to the way in which our political system gas been hijacked by the parties. All they will do by attempting to subvert the current system and so bring in some form of PR is to increase the power of the parties and further alienate people from politics. Then the electorate will end up with even less control over our elected officials (who will no longer be worthy of the name 'representatives'.
Alex Thomson on twitter tying himself in knots trying to accuse Scottish Resistance of stifling Jim Murphy's right to free speech while accusing SNP supporters of not gagging the Scottish Resistance (which have nothing to do with the SNP in any case).
Half a million registered on April 20. I think a further 3/4 million in the preceding few weeks.
You'll have to find something else to comfort yourself with until Friday's disappointment.
The Electoral Commission itself estimates 6 million eligible voters are not registered to vote. April 20th was a fortnight before this came out and therefore Brand's pronouncements will come to late for any of his fans among the remaining 4.75 million.
Perhaps you could occupy your time between now and polling day learning basic maths?
PS - be careful not to delete the <"blockquote"> parameter - causes endless formatting problems (from bitter past experience).
I wonder what Ed promise Brand in return for this? After all, Ed has a track record of changing government policy after being harangued by a C-list celebrity.
Brand's pronouncements will come to late for any of his fans among the remaining 4.75 million.
I meant to add - 4.75 million is considerably more than could be reasonably be considered 'fans' of Russell Brand. This is why I am doubtful that it will help Ed Miliband.
I wonder what Ed promise Brand in return for this? After all, Ed has a track record of changing government policy after being harangued by a C-list celebrity.
He has a movie out....you will see it advertised on his youtube channel...
If you know anything about one of the standard M.O's how for growing your YouTube channel and flogging stuff via it, Brand is just using the same approach that has been so successful for the likes of Zoella.
The whole thing has (unlike EdStone) actually a well run PR stunt (the leaked photo, the sneak peek vid, etc) for both concerned, but then I presume Brand PR people were in charge of this rather than those who came up with Ed Stone.
But Brand got a big jolt of publicity from the first interview. This follow-up will get him more, but it's also forced him to change his mind: after telling people not to vote, he's now not only telling them to vote, but who to vote for.
Brand will know that this is off-putting to some. So he must get something more than just that.
As I said, Ed has a track record of giving in to the whims of C-list celebrities.
I wonder what Ed promise Brand in return for this? After all, Ed has a track record of changing government policy after being harangued by a C-list celebrity.
Multi-millionaire media Labour luvvies.
But in a close election every vote counts and this can only be positive.
Lol, Brand sells out, what a surprise. In other news, Ben Elton is no fan of Thatcher. It's rather disturbing that our anarchists are so easily bought off by millionaire London class traitors. Whither John Lydon now?
Russell Brand has just released a video on his YouTube series the Trews in which he urges people in England to vote Labour, in a huge departure from his previous stance that voting is a waste of time.
He explains his change of heart because “the Conservative party plans to dismantle our community assets, to tear apart the very fabric of our society”.
He says his interview with Ed Miliband last week made him change his stance on the value of voting:
What I heard Ed Miliband say was that if we speak, he will listen. So on that basis we have no choice but to take decisive action to end the danger of the Conservative party. David Cameron might think I’m a joke but I don’t think there’s anything funny about what the Conservative party has been doing to this country and we have to stop them …
He then moves on to say that if you’re Scottish, you’ll probably be voting SNP; if you live in Brighton Pavilion, you should vote for Caroline Lucas; but if you’re anywhere else, you should vote Labour.
We all knew this was coming didn't we.
But how many people who follow Russell Brand will have bothered to register to vote in the first place? He appeals precisely to those people who are not interested in politics (and, let's face it, probably aren't very good at filling in forms).
I think his endorsement will be at best a neutral asset for Miliband. It may just help Caroline Lucas hang on despite the ongoing saga of Brighton Council.
Isn't all you have to do, not move house in the last year?
Again, @Freggles those who follow Brand e.g. students will move house on a regular basis. I think I had to register on moving and then re-register as well, although I could be wrong.
The Delia Smith endorsement is an extremely good one for Labour precisely because she doesn't fit the normal mould of Labour luvvie. They must be delighted with it.
I doubt many people under 35, or even 40, really know who Delia is. So only older voters might be persuaded. Older voters have already decided. Therefore it will not shift a single vote, except maybe in Norwich.
Yes, it was 1971 when she was dispensing advice for such recipes as 'Baked Fish Fingers'. '...a concoction of tinned tomatoes, mushrooms and grated cheese poured over fish fingers...'.
The Delia Smith endorsement is an extremely good one for Labour precisely because she doesn't fit the normal mould of Labour luvvie. They must be delighted with it.
The Delia endorsement of Labour might have an effect at the margin in Norwich North but might possibly have the opposite effect in Ipswich - Con Hold as per my "JackW Dozen" prediction.
I wonder what Ed promise Brand in return for this? After all, Ed has a track record of changing government policy after being harangued by a C-list celebrity.
Multi-millionaire media Labour luvvies.
But in a close election every vote counts and this can only be positive.
Doubt it, but more people I know actively dislike Brand than like him. Most just aren't interested.
The Delia Smith endorsement is an extremely good one for Labour precisely because she doesn't fit the normal mould of Labour luvvie. They must be delighted with it.
The Delia endorsement of Labour might have an effect at the margin in Norwich North but might possibly have the opposite effect in Ipswich - Con Hold as per my "JackW Dozen" prediction.
Should also help Labour's opponents in seats around Wolverhampton.
The Delia Smith endorsement is an extremely good one for Labour precisely because she doesn't fit the normal mould of Labour luvvie. They must be delighted with it.
The Delia endorsement of Labour might have an effect at the margin in Norwich North but might possibly have the opposite effect in Ipswich - Con Hold as per my "JackW Dozen" prediction.
Quite so. With the old farm derby the topic for his week, the tractor boys will vote blue to smite Delia. That's one marginal safe, thanks chef
Again, @Freggles those who follow Brand e.g. students will move house on a regular basis. I think I had to register on moving and then re-register as well, although I could be wrong.
Most people are only at uni for the three years, I expect a lot of 23-28 year olds follow him and are already feeling that a life on minimum wage with no prospect of asset ownership is not what we were promised
Brand's pronouncements will come to late for any of his fans among the remaining 4.75 million.
I meant to add - 4.75 million is considerably more than could be reasonably be considered 'fans' of Russell Brand. This is why I am doubtful that it will help Ed Miliband.
But what's Miliband's mindset with all this? Anyone who thinks that erecting monuments to yourself in Downing Street is a good idea must be - shall we say - a little distant from reality. I suspect Miliband genuinely believes that having Brand as his patron will give him the youth vote by the millions. Poor old Ed doesn't realize that Brand is just a figure of fun - not the visionary and cult leader of his Ed's fantasies. This might all end in tears.
Again, @Freggles those who follow Brand e.g. students will move house on a regular basis. I think I had to register on moving and then re-register as well, although I could be wrong.
Most people are only at uni for the three years, I expect a lot of 23-28 year olds follow him and are already feeling that a life on minimum wage with no prospect of asset ownership is not what we were promised
And another three years temping and shifting around according to relationships/work/etc etc...for me, stability didn't arrive until I was in my 30s.
@Stark_Dawning I suspect it was just an attempt to do something different in a bid to push his vote up a touch. Cameron did something similar with Jonathan Ross in 2005/6 and was just as widely ridiculed - however, he at least had the sense not to do it in the middle of an election campaign.
That being said, I agree about the EdStone. I can't help but feel large stone slabs with a list of pledges that will mostly have to be broken on was quite literally asking for it...
The Delia Smith endorsement is an extremely good one for Labour precisely because she doesn't fit the normal mould of Labour luvvie. They must be delighted with it.
The Delia endorsement of Labour might have an effect at the margin in Norwich North but might possibly have the opposite effect in Ipswich - Con Hold as per my "JackW Dozen" prediction.
Quite so. With the old farm derby the topic for his week, the tractor boys will vote blue to smite Delia. That's one marginal safe, thanks chef
Chelsea played up there just after her embarassing rant, and Chelsea fans were singing 'We've got Abramovich, you've got a drunken bitch'
Quick as a flash the Norwich fans came back with 'We've got a supercook, you've got a Russian crook'
For all our sakes, I hope he's as far away as possible...really unsavoury character and about as funny as getting an arrow through the neck and discovering there's a gas bill tied to it (with apologies to Ben Elton).
Brand's pronouncements will come to late for any of his fans among the remaining 4.75 million.
I meant to add - 4.75 million is considerably more than could be reasonably be considered 'fans' of Russell Brand. This is why I am doubtful that it will help Ed Miliband.
But what's Miliband's mindset with all this? Anyone who thinks that erecting monuments to yourself in Downing Street is a good idea must be - shall we say - a little distant from reality. I suspect Miliband genuinely believes that having Brand as his patron will give him the youth vote by the millions. Poor old Ed doesn't realize that Brand is just a figure of fun - not the visionary and cult leader of his Ed's fantasies. This might all end in tears.
Not the best move by Hypocrisy Central I must say.
The Delia Smith endorsement is an extremely good one for Labour precisely because she doesn't fit the normal mould of Labour luvvie. They must be delighted with it.
The Delia endorsement of Labour might have an effect at the margin in Norwich North but might possibly have the opposite effect in Ipswich - Con Hold as per my "JackW Dozen" prediction.
Quite so. With the old farm derby the topic for his week, the tractor boys will vote blue to smite Delia. That's one marginal safe, thanks chef
Chelsea played up there just after her embarassing rant, and Chelsea fans were singing 'We've got Abramovich, you've got a drunken bitch'
Quick as a flash the Norwich fans came back with 'We've got a supercook, you've got a Russian crook'
Carlotta - so they couldn't even get a member of the cabinet.
For what its worth - and I don't know why I bother trying tot talk to people about internal Labour stuff on this site as you all never listen - MPs have woken up over the last 7 years to the importance and power of members.
The members will want Ed to stay and they will shut up if they were to even raise their voices.
There will be no question of any moves against Ed. No MP will be stupid enough to do that.
Even if he wins less than 2010?
The Labour party does not remove a Prime Minister. The Labour Party has never removed a Leader.
Apart from one who won three elections, of course.
The warmonger resigned. He was not removed.
What a saddo you are. The leader of the labour party. The man the labour party elected. Prime minister. Thats who resigned. The man who left us with Gordon Brown. Why not admit it. He did not comer from another planet. You put him there. And envy from Brown got rid of him.
Again, @Freggles those who follow Brand e.g. students will move house on a regular basis. I think I had to register on moving and then re-register as well, although I could be wrong.
Most people are only at uni for the three years, I expect a lot of 23-28 year olds follow him and are already feeling that a life on minimum wage with no prospect of asset ownership is not what we were promised
And another three years temping and shifting around according to relationships/work/etc etc...for me, stability didn't arrive until I was in my 30s.
@Stark_Dawning I suspect it was just an attempt to do something different in a bid to push his vote up a touch. Cameron did something similar with Jonathan Ross in 2005/6 and was just as widely ridiculed - however, he at least had the sense not to do it in the middle of an election campaign.
That being said, I agree about the EdStone. I can't help but feel large stone slabs with a list of pledges that will mostly have to be broken on was quite literally asking for it...
The difference is that Cameron merely appeared on a BBC show that Ross presented. Miliband actively sought Brand as his patron, turning up to his house in the dark hours as if summoned like a tradesman. I think Miliband actually believes Brand to be a sort of benign Charles Manson - an enigmatic visionary and inspirer of youth. Why else would he make himself ridiculous by seeking his endorsement? As I've said before, I wonder if the horror of Scotland - not yet fully confronted - is scrambling Labour's collective psyche.
I think it was Thatcher who said to Callaghan (who had said he would be like Moses, leading the British people out of the wilderness) 'Keep taking the tablets.' (She tried to rewrite it to 'Keep taking the pills', not quite getting the joke.)
Only thought occurs to me - given Miliband is Jewish, might someone cry anti-semitism on that?
Alastair Campbell @campbellclaret · 1h 1 hour ago Don't often listen to @BBCr4today cos of constant hectoring and smugness of certain presenters. @Ed_Miliband dealt with said presenter well
Nope, that's the real Bad Al. Doesn't do irony, does he?
Berger trying to avoid the question, pretending that she can't hear or see what Anderew Neil said re that segregated audience.
Good to see this story keep running - Telegraph and Spectator also have it this morning. For some reason Labour candidates seen really unwilling to talk about it to a national audience.
I think it was Thatcher who said to Callaghan (who had said he would be like Moses, leading the British people out of the wilderness) 'Keep taking the tablets.' (She tried to rewrite it to 'Keep taking the pills', not quite getting the joke.)
Only thought occurs to me - given Miliband is Jewish, might someone cry anti-semitism on that?
Why do you think the Tories pushed it so hard ? Dog whistle.
I think it was Thatcher who said to Callaghan (who had said he would be like Moses, leading the British people out of the wilderness) 'Keep taking the tablets.' (She tried to rewrite it to 'Keep taking the pills', not quite getting the joke.)
Only thought occurs to me - given Miliband is Jewish, might someone cry anti-semitism on that?
Why do you think the Tories pushed it so hard ? Dog whistle.
I don't think so. The Tories do not have a history of anti semitism. There are elements in other parties that are antisemitic though.
I think it was Thatcher who said to Callaghan (who had said he would be like Moses, leading the British people out of the wilderness) 'Keep taking the tablets.' (She tried to rewrite it to 'Keep taking the pills', not quite getting the joke.)
Only thought occurs to me - given Miliband is Jewish, might someone cry anti-semitism on that?
Why do you think the Tories pushed it so hard ?
Because it makes Miliband look like a clownish megalomaniac. Which is good from a Tory perspective. Miliband did garner some sympathy when he looked odd but harmless. Now he looks odd and dangerous, and that's never a good thing.
I see it is Labour PPB today on R5....tame interview with Berger allowing her to bang on about Tory secret plans for the NHS, then OHHHH Russell Brand, lets play his endorsement....then oh is it trending on twitter...lets have a look, not yet, but I am sure it will be and when it does we will be back to take a look.
I think it was Thatcher who said to Callaghan (who had said he would be like Moses, leading the British people out of the wilderness) 'Keep taking the tablets.' (She tried to rewrite it to 'Keep taking the pills', not quite getting the joke.)
Only thought occurs to me - given Miliband is Jewish, might someone cry anti-semitism on that?
Why do you think the Tories pushed it so hard ? Dog whistle.
The Delia Smith endorsement is an extremely good one for Labour precisely because she doesn't fit the normal mould of Labour luvvie. They must be delighted with it.
I doubt many people under 35, or even 40, really know who Delia is. So only older voters might be persuaded. Older voters have already decided. Therefore it will not shift a single vote, except maybe in Norwich.
Yes, it was 1971 when she was dispensing advice for such recipes as 'Baked Fish Fingers'. '...a concoction of tinned tomatoes, mushrooms and grated cheese poured over fish fingers...'.
But actually not too bad nutritionally all things considered. Tomatoes are one of the few things whose valuable nutrients survive tinning largely unscathed, the mushrooms, cheese, and fish (provided there was any) would mean you were getting three types of protein, and there would be beneficial fats in the cheese.
I think it was Thatcher who said to Callaghan (who had said he would be like Moses, leading the British people out of the wilderness) 'Keep taking the tablets.' (She tried to rewrite it to 'Keep taking the pills', not quite getting the joke.)
Only thought occurs to me - given Miliband is Jewish, might someone cry anti-semitism on that?
Why do you think the Tories pushed it so hard ? Dog whistle.
I'd never even considered this till you said it. I think if anyone's got issues over Ed's lineage its you.
The Delia Smith endorsement is an extremely good one for Labour precisely because she doesn't fit the normal mould of Labour luvvie. They must be delighted with it.
The Ronnie O Sullivan one wasn't bad either.
Brand coming out for the Greens is the least surprising one ever tbh. And shows up their core certainty to vote...
The Delia Smith endorsement is an extremely good one for Labour precisely because she doesn't fit the normal mould of Labour luvvie. They must be delighted with it.
The Ronnie O Sullivan one wasn't bad either.
Brand coming out for the Greens is the least surprising one ever tbh. And shows up their core certainty to vote...
Russell Brand is endorsing Labour.
In England , SNP in Scotland.
Really? Ed needs to issue a clarification about that and sharpish. It might appear that he, Miliband, is endorsing the SNP in Scotland too.
I don't think the Brand Miliband endorsement will make much difference to the individual voter in terms of their political inclination. What it could do though is communicate to young people that voting isn't completely useless, that elections can change things. It might cause some people to talk about politics. They might even start thinking that politics are "cool" and it might encourage one or other person to turn out to vote. But the hardcore Russel Brand drones will be out of the picture anyway because their "master" advised them not to bother in the first place so that more likely than not they're not registered to begin with.
Unpleasant scenes in Glasgow as the Nat thugs try and stamp on free speech. We all know the SNP could halt if they wanted to - the SNP are the new nasty party,
Comments
http://i.imgur.com/xZoV55w.jpg
'Street protests are surely a high possibility'
Well at least that's an improvement on last week when you were predicting riots.
However everyone has a free vote and how they choose to exercise that free vote is up to them. Short of intimidation, neither influencing someone to change their vote, nor being influenced to change one's vote are outwith the normal democratic process.
Russell Brand is endorsing Labour.
The Labour Party was said to be "over the moon" after gaining the support of one of the UK's most famous cooks, football club director Delia Smith.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/vote_2005/england/4469725.stm
Hint there in the URL...
Whatever next surprise at the fact Jo Brand is doing her bit for Labour as well?
Under 40's might know this guy though?
Russell Brand has just released a video on his YouTube series the Trews in which he urges people in England to vote Labour, in a huge departure from his previous stance that voting is a waste of time.
He explains his change of heart because “the Conservative party plans to dismantle our community assets, to tear apart the very fabric of our society”.
He says his interview with Ed Miliband last week made him change his stance on the value of voting:
What I heard Ed Miliband say was that if we speak, he will listen. So on that basis we have no choice but to take decisive action to end the danger of the Conservative party. David Cameron might think I’m a joke but I don’t think there’s anything funny about what the Conservative party has been doing to this country and we have to stop them …
He then moves on to say that if you’re Scottish, you’ll probably be voting SNP; if you live in Brighton Pavilion, you should vote for Caroline Lucas; but if you’re anywhere else, you should vote Labour.
Very good spin op for Labour, managing to make one interview get several new cycles over the course of a week. And of course for Brand as well, the man who hates all those tax dodgers like Amazon and Google, unless he is flogging his products on those sites. I am sure he has seen a significant uptick in views etc...oh and he happens to have a movie out as well...available from all good tax dodging online outlets.
I think his endorsement will be at best a neutral asset for Miliband. It may just help Caroline Lucas hang on despite the ongoing saga of Brighton Council.
If it energizes the younger people to vote for whatever party, I reckon it is no bad thing.
Thought he was going Green.
Labour's ground game is honestly brilliant this election. I really wish I could go into the details of it for people on here. Its so frustrating when you read very ill informed comments about campaigning on here!
And you have the cheek to call Scott P post repetitive.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-2015-scotland-32581803
I wonder what Ed promise Brand in return for this? After all, Ed has a track record of changing government policy after being harangued by a C-list celebrity.
If you know anything about one of the standard M.O's how for growing your YouTube channel and flogging stuff via it, Brand is just using the same approach that has been so successful for the likes of Zoella.
The whole thing has (unlike EdStone) actually a well run PR stunt (the leaked photo, the sneak peek vid, etc) for both concerned, but then I presume Brand PR people were in charge of this rather than those who came up with Ed Stone.
Yum!
http://tinyurl.com/bpdlw7e
But how many people who follow Russell Brand will have bothered to register to vote in the first place? He appeals precisely to those people who are not interested in politics (and, let's face it, probably aren't very good at filling in forms).
I think his endorsement will be at best a neutral asset for Miliband. It may just help Caroline Lucas hang on despite the ongoing saga of Brighton Council.
Half a million registered on April 20. I think a further 3/4 million in the preceding few weeks.
You'll have to find something else to comfort yourself with until Friday's disappointment.
Unfortunately most of them are exercising that right based on ignorance. They fail to realise that the very thing they are most exercised by - unaccountable politicians who put party and personal advancement before the best interests of their constituents - is in large part due to the way in which our political system gas been hijacked by the parties. All they will do by attempting to subvert the current system and so bring in some form of PR is to increase the power of the parties and further alienate people from politics. Then the electorate will end up with even less control over our elected officials (who will no longer be worthy of the name 'representatives'.
BBC NEWS
Utterly bizarre hypocrisy.
Perhaps you could occupy your time between now and polling day learning basic maths?
PS - be careful not to delete the <"blockquote"> parameter - causes endless formatting problems (from bitter past experience).
Brand will know that this is off-putting to some. So he must get something more than just that.
As I said, Ed has a track record of giving in to the whims of C-list celebrities.
It's rather disturbing that our anarchists are so easily bought off by millionaire London class traitors. Whither John Lydon now?
where's jim davidson when we need him....
@Stark_Dawning I suspect it was just an attempt to do something different in a bid to push his vote up a touch. Cameron did something similar with Jonathan Ross in 2005/6 and was just as widely ridiculed - however, he at least had the sense not to do it in the middle of an election campaign.
That being said, I agree about the EdStone. I can't help but feel large stone slabs with a list of pledges that will mostly have to be broken on was quite literally asking for it...
Quick as a flash the Norwich fans came back with 'We've got a supercook, you've got a Russian crook'
To be rather like an iron
Why not admit it. He did not comer from another planet. You put him there. And envy from Brown got rid of him.
Only thought occurs to me - given Miliband is Jewish, might someone cry anti-semitism on that?
Can't believe it was that wrong.
Not a great football fan, but what on earth was all that about?
Can't imagine Mary Berry would approve and she certainly wouldn't do that sort of thing.
http://www.dailystar.co.uk/showbiz/367979/Great-British-Rave-Off-Mary-Berry-78-enjoys-tequila-fuelled-nights-in-Ibiza-s-wild-club
1983: 28%, 209 seats
1987: 32%, 229 seats
1992: 35%, 271 seats
Labour got 29.7% in 2010 so you'd have expected them to get about 215 seats based on past experience.